Royal Surrey celebrates International Nurses Day

Royal Surrey County Hospital is celebrating the outstanding contribution made by its nurses and midwives, as part of International Nurses Day.

Today (Friday, May 12) the Trust said thank you to its 1089 registered nurses, 121 midwives, 328 health care assistants and 41 maternity support workers.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every year on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Louise Stead, the Trust’s Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, qualified as a registered nurse in 1988 and before joining the Trust’s Board in 2011.

Her career spanned several specialties across a number of London’s leading teaching hospitals.

“I decided to become a nurse in my late teens, principally because I wanted to make a difference to the lives of others,” said Louise.

“One of the fantastic things about nursing is that each day is different and when you arrive for your shift you never know what challenges it is going to bring.

“International Nurses Day provides us with an opportunity to recognise the care, dedication, commitment and courage that our nursing and midwifery staff demonstrate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“As nurses and midwives, the day also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on how we can continue to help and support our patients, their families and carers to ensure they receive the best possible care.”

Sue Sjuve, Chair, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our nursing and midwifery staff for their unique and invaluable contribution that they make to patients’ health and wellbeing across Surrey and the surrounding areas.

“Since joining the Trust in March, I have spent time visiting many areas across the Trust and have been incredibly impressed by the hard work of our nursing staff.”